Author's Note: Will they be safe from danger? I really hope everyone is still enjoying this story. Your favorites and reviews push me to further this story and make me believe I could actually attempt this on a professional level so as always please read and review. I love you all.

Inspiration: Safe by Miranda Lambert & Over at the Frankenstein Place by Richard O'Brian


Safe

It was darker than pitch, with only a few stars seen through the tree tops as a light source. She felt like they were traveling forever and Cesar had since slowed to a walk and she prayed he wouldn't get them lost. She had dismounted some time back not to tire him out too much since he was the only mode of transportation available to them. She could hear the occasional owl hoot and the snorts coming from Cesar she knew he wanted to stop as much as she did to rest but without shelter from the elements or animals she didn't think they'd make it long. She couldn't remember if there were large predatory animals out in France at this time. They had wolves in 'Beauty and the Beast' but being so tired she couldn't recall if it was England or France and what the date of the movie was, let alone if it was historically accurate. Despite not knowing if she should be worried she mounted Cesar again just to be on the safe side in case they needed to get away quickly.

She began to feel afraid not only of her surroundings but what could be lurking in the shadows both animals and bandits. After all she was in essence a lone woman while strong enough to fend one man she couldn't take on a group not with a horse and drugged man to take care of. Besides, what happens when they did find shelter, would the cops search this far up, would they be found no matter where they hid? Would Erik be angry that she tricked him and dragged him from his only home even of it was for his safety? Worse would he hate her for it, would he hate her for everything? Would he be so heartbroken by Christine that he still died? Would the cyanide that he had managed to drink kill him after all?

She tightened her cloak around her but still shuddered from the fear and the cold. She knew she shouldn't be thinking like this, she should be positive have faith even if it was hard to do so. One thing that always calmed her as a child and as an adult was music one thing she had in common with the poor heartbroken man. She couldn't risk pulling her iPhone out someone might see the light so she decided to sing instead. She sang a song that she felt fit the situation of trepidation on a dark night looking for shelter much like Janet with Brad that fateful night. Just like them she didn't know what would happen or what she would find.

"In the velvet darkness of the blackest night/Burning bright, there's a guiding star/No matter what or who you are."

"There's a light over at the Frankenstein Place/There's a light burning in the fireplace/There's a light, light in the darkness of everybody's life."

"The darkness must go down the river of nights dreaming/Flow Morpheus slow, let the sun and light come streaming/Into my life, into my life."

Jen felt herself feel better and sung the last line with a little more force.

"There's a light over at the Frankenstein Place/There's a light burning in the fireplace/There's a light, light in the darkness of everybody's life."


Erik felt like he was walking through a deep fog. Everything was gray and dreary. He wondered where he was. It was too nice to be hell but too dark to be heaven, perhaps it was purgatory he once heard of a place where you either cleansed your sins or condemned yourself.

Suddenly he heard what he imagined was an angel singing to him. He tried to run towards the sound but it always seemed muffled and soft no matter how hard he ran. This angel's voice sounded rough and fearful as though she were scared for his soul for which he didn't doubt. Could this be his guardian angel the one meant to look after him the one that he stopped caring about when he had been beaten one too many times.

The angel sung more loudly now he could almost hear the words so he stood still only hearing the last line of her mournful song which he felt was the most important part, since it echoed clearly through his mind.

"There's a light, light in the darkness of everybody's life."

Could there really be a light in his life? Even with all the darkness that he lived could there really be a chance for him to have light. Could he really purge his sins? Now he wished he hadn't died maybe if he worked on cleansing his soul maybe Christine would see the true man inside, the man who yearned for beauty and love. The man who longed to know compassion and kindness, the man who no longer wanted to kill or destroy, but the man who was ready to change. But it was too late wasn't it? Maybe there was time left.

"I want to change. I want to change." He continued to speak it over and over until nothingness once more overtook him.


Jen let out a shaky sigh and straightened her posture, refusing to give up. Soon she heard Cesar's hooves clip clop on a hard surface. 'Strange.' As they continued she could see that they were on a small stone path. She pulled Cesar's reins, happy for the change in direction. Right before them lay a small cottage. 'Oh thank God.'

"Come on Cesar let's see if anyone's home and if they wouldn't mind sheltering us for the night."

She fixed her skirts and slid down off of Cesar's back. She almost stumbled, her legs cramped up from being on the horse for so long. She would definitely be sore the next day, it had been years since she rode a horse and she had been on Cesar for a long amount of time. After stretching her legs out as best she could she walked to the cottage and knocked softly at first then after five minutes she knocked harder.

"Hello is anyone here. Please! My companion and I need shelter for the night. We can pay you."

No answer came and not even a single light went on. "That's odd."

She turned the doorknob which was unlocked and pushed the door open. What she saw confirmed her suspicions. Most of the cottage was bare only the large heavy pieces of furniture were left behind. Dirt covered most of the floors while dust covered most of the furniture, the air smelled stale like it hadn't been lived in for years. She checked all the rooms and there was no sign of life, there were no clothes no dishes left out so at least they didn't leave in a hurry which would have meant wild animals or bandits it seemed like they just out grew their home. Faint chalk drawings took up some of the living room wall. She could almost imagine little kids running around. For the first time that night she smiled a big genuine smile. They had found a safe shelter for the night.

She went back outside seeing a small stable with enough stalls for two horses. There was an empty feed bag on the floor of the stall she could use if she was lucky enough to find any fruit, and a blanket draped over the door of the pen. 'Tomorrow I'll let him out to graze.' Cesar was led to the cottage entrance first where the phantom was pulled off and left against the doorway while she led Cesar to the stable. She removed the saddle and bridle laughing as Cesar neighed happily. She began brushing him down quickly.

"I know you're happy to have that off you. Sorry I won't be brushing you down that well tonight but I'm too damn tired but tomorrow I will do a better job. Sleep well my dear friend." She beat some of the dust from the blanket and placed it over Cesar.

Cesar nuzzled his nose in the crook of her neck making her giggle softly. "Cesar that tickles, yes I love you too and thank you."

She rubbed his nose before heading back for the phantom. She dragged him inside thankful the bedroom wasn't far. She pulled him into the small bed wrapping the few blankets and sheets she could find to keep him warm. She didn't dare start a fire fearing the smoke would alert someone that they were there. As tired as she was she vowed to keep watch over the phantom and keep watch for the cops. She didn't want to be caught unawares. So she sat in a chair next to the fireplace keeping an eye on the door but instead found herself watching the phantom sleep.

He looked so different when he slept he wasn't angry, feared, controlling or violent but instead was lonely, sad, fearful and withdrawn. Completely different than the feared phantom, he looked more like an unloved little boy that was beaten for his looks and shunned by a mother who couldn't love her own child. It was seeing him like that, looking so innocent which made the stirrings of love come back.

However she quickly shoved them away, he was still in love with Christine and she knew she needed to find him someone else he could love. It's not like he was meant to be with her, was he? She tried to squash the little bit of hope that she could be the one for him. After all she wasn't even supposed to be there, she had to go back to her own time. She sighed deeply and prepared herself for the long night ahead. Her eyes felt heavy and her head started to droop, but she quickly shook it off. The sleeping draught she switched the cyanide for should wear off by the morning, so she only had to stay up until then when she would force him to drink the vitamin B12, grateful she was slightly obsessive about being prepared for anything and constantly sleeping late and needing a pick me up throughout the day. Before her head could droop again she soon got up and walked around. She couldn't sleep standing up and used that to her advantage by investigating the rooms of the cottage and seeing what she could find and use.

She ended up finding a chipped cup that was still usable, a small clay container, a bowl that had cracked in half, a kerosene lamp, a large cast iron skillet, a small pot and a larger pot that was dented but usable, a large wooden tub that was propped up outside, and pieces of flint and steel. The kerosene lamp she found was quickly dispatched outside. The pump outside was in working order but the water that came out wasn't as clear as she liked. In the morning she planned on checking it versus the river's water. Whichever one was cleaner they could boil for drinking water and the other would be used for washing clothes and dishes as well as the outhouse which she wasn't happy about, however it was better than nothing.

She gathered sticks and branches for the wood stove getting them into a pile near the door. While she gathered her mind kept thinking back to how sweet Erik looked while he was sleeping, and remembering what he said before he drank the vial. He had apologized to her and said they were still friends. She smiled knowing they were still friends even after the fight. But would he still feel that way once he knows she switched his vial with a sleeping draught? Would they still be friends then? It was definitely going to be a long night.


A/N: It will be a very long night.